Dr. Jack Robinson

Augusta, GA – Dr. Robert Jackson “Jack” Robinson, Th.D. of Augusta, GA, aged 94, entered into rest at home on February 8, 2022. Jack was the loving husband of 71 years to Charlotte Furrh Robinson, who he married in 1950 at First Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas.

Jack was a gifted athlete, intellectual, and servant to the Lord, who lived a life bursting with adventure, accomplishment, and service. A minister’s son, he grew up and attended high school in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated with the class of 1945 from Pascal High School, where he played basketball and was voted by Texas Sportswriters as the best high school basketball player in Texas history. Jack went on to great academic and athletic success at his beloved alma mater, Baylor University, where he was a letterman and All American for three consecutive years in 1946, 1947 and 1948. Already accomplished, basketball had more in store for Jack. He was selected to play in the 1948 London Olympic Games and won the Gold Medal in basketball. He was also honored to be chosen for an audience with the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace as a representative of the US Olympic Teams. In recognition of his achievements, Jack was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1966 and was privileged to carry the Olympic Torch through Macon on its way to Atlanta in 1996 for the Olympic opening ceremonies.

A lover of sports, Jack passionately followed the Atlanta Braves and watched any televised basketball or football game. With his best friend Charles Mize, he watched his beloved Baylor Bears’ basketball team win the National Championship, which he’d waited seventy years to see. He also loved to play golf with his friends and hunt.

Jack also led an accomplished academic life. After graduating from Baylor University, Jack studied at Southwestern Seminary, Temple University and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and obtained a doctorate in theology. He was also awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Baylor University, Howard Paine University, Augusta Law School, and Mercer University. Jack was an avid reader and consumed several books a week for most of his life.

Jack found his greatest accomplishments and adventures in service to the Lord. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, he preached in the Youth Revival Movement throughout the southern United States. In Hawaii, he was honored to preach in the Christian Crusade from which a student mission program began at the Southern Baptist Convention. Through the Foreign Mission Board, Jack and Charlote also went on to start English language churches in Denmark; the Netherlands; Switzerland; Barcelona, Spain; and Frankfurt and Stuttgart, Germany. He served as minister at East Hill Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida (Where he also served as Chaplain to the Florida State University basketball team) and at Greenwich Baptist Church in Greenwich, Connecticut, and in leadership roles as a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, President of the Radio and TV Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and President of the Radio and TV Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and President of the Georgia First Baptist Convention.

Jack’s ministry led him to Augusta, Georgia, where he served First Baptist Church for 21 years. Active in the Augusta community, he served as a member of the Richmond County Housing Authority and chairman of the University Hospital Board (1973). He was active in the Augusta Exchange Club, Augusta Country Club and The Pinnacle Club.

Jack was driven by his love of the Lord and took great pleasure to have been blessed with the opportunity to spread that love by preaching the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ in over 80 countries around the world. His great gift of relating to people allowed him to lead countless souls to the love of Christ.

A special thanks to his caregivers Synethea Council, Shirley Smalley and La’Toya Jacobs for their loving devotion and kindness.

Family members in addition to his wife include Charlotte Smith (Philippe Amiraux), Towson, MD; Frances Claussen (Henry), Augusta, GA; and six grandchildren: Robin Smith Everhart (Drew) Glen Allen, VA; Rebecca Claussen Brown (Joe) Tallahassee, FL; Shelley Smith Semko (Isaac) Ballston Lake, NY; William Jackson Smith Sabillaville, MD; Henry Claussen (Cassidy) Augusta, GA; and James Travis Smith (Liana) Cambridge, MA; as well as 5 great grandchildren.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Bryan Robinson and Robyna Jackson Robinson, and his brother Bryan Robinson.

The funeral service will be held Monday, February 14, 2022, at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with Dr. Will Dyer and Dr. David Hardage officiating.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com